Book Review: Joy to the World! Christmas Around the Globe

Dear Readers,

I was pleasantly surprised to find this beautiful hardcover children's book under the tree! My daughter is a Barefoot Books Ambassador and has her own book store. She's done lots of wonderful things for the company and has always been a strong supporter of children's books. 

About The Book:

"Explore Christmas traditions from 13 different countries! Rhyming text and detailed illustrations make the book accessible to younger readers, while educational endnotes about the 13 celebrations add interest for older children. Gold ink and festive illustrations capture the joy of the season and make this book a beautiful gift in itself. Engaging and informative for anyone who wants to learn about the holiday. Features Christmas traditions from: *Ethiopia *Colombia *Australia *Italy *Serbia *Mexico *India *Iceland *Egypt *Argentina *Philippines *Lebanon *Canada."

Review

I really like this one! Such a beautiful classic read for your annual Christmas reading memories! It is beautifully illustrated with gorgeous, bright colored images regarding Christmas traditions around the world. The set of pages have four rhyming lines.

The combined stories explain what Christmas is and they have lots of information about Christmas in each country. I was aware of many cultural celebrations of Christmas around the world, but I didn’t know many of the specifics. Now I know!

My favorite part of the book is at the beginning! 

"It's almost Christmas ! A bright time of year for coming together with those we hold dear. Like Mary and Joseph, we joyfully wait. For this special occasion that we celebrate."

Towards the back of the book, the author writes:

"Jesus is born! What a wonderful reason For coming together for this sacred season."

I especially love how the author shares, "What is Christmas?" Indeed, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus in the Christian faith!

You must check out this particular book, Joy to the World! Christmas Around the Globe by Kate DePalma and Sophie Fatus. 

-- LadyD

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

© copyright 2008-2020– All rights reserved

 "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases." 

Barefoot Books-LadyD

Singing in the Shower Chords and More

Hi There!

One of my piano students is also learning the guitar. These young boys and girls read sheet music, as well as chord charts. It's amazing how quickly one can learn to play a song with just three chords. Maybe you can add these to your class list or homeschool resources.

Singing in the Shower

C    Am             Dm     G  C  Am             Dm      G

Singin' in the shower, singin' in the shower.
C    Am            Dm       G
Singin' in the shower,

      Dm                  G7
I'm singin' in the shower again.

C   D   G                         Am                        Bm              Am
Every morning when I wake up, well my voice is all wrong,

                G                  Am                        Bm    Am
You can hardly even hear me sing my song.

         G                      Am                       Bm              C
But I step into the shower, there's a whole new sound,

      Am                   D7                  G
As soon as the water's comin' down.

Singin' in the shower. Singin' in the shower.
Siiiiiingin' in the shower. I'm singin' in the shower again.

Oh, the shiny silver sprayer makes a perfect microphone,
I could really be terrific with a band of my own.
I hear those backup singers... Is it my imagination?
Just listen to that great reverberation.

Singin'...Oh, the mirrors' getting' foggy.
(Shower)Singin'...And the drums are getting soggy.
(Shower) Singin'...I'm happiest when
I'm singin' in the shower again!

I like the shimmer of the tile and the rhythm like rain,
When the new day comes, I've just got to entertain.
I bring so much emotion to every single refrain!
(Pause...)It's a shame to see this talent goin' right down the drain.

Now one day I may be singin' Oh! In Carnegie Hall
And you'll be sure that I'll be bringin' (yeah!) my own shower stall.
We wearin' waterproof tuxedos... maybe purple satin Speedos.
Or I'm not singin' there at all!

Siiiiiingin'...and in the big finale
Siiiingin'...I sound just like Frankie Valley
Oh, singin' I-yi-yi-yiyi. I'm singin' in the shower again!

Oh, I... I like to sing high...!
But I... get cold by and by...
Oh, I... I just wanna be dry!

Singin' in the shower...
Singin' in the shower (repeat)

Credit: Michael Ford, Sandra Boynton

Blue Moo '62

D                          Bm                     Em              A

Tell me, have you heard a sound, sad and far away?

D                Bm                    Em                 A

Maybe it is calling you. But who can ever say-ee-ay?

D                    Bm        Em                 A

Is it really magic? Oh, this I know is true;

            G        A                 D

It's the Blue, Blue-hoo-oo Moo - oo 

Credit: Sandra Boynton and Michael Ford

This Little Piggy

C     

This little piggy went to market,

G7
This little piggy stayed home,

C
This little piggy had roast beef,

F
This little piggy had none,

C                                       F                      G7             C
And this little piggy cried "wee wee wee" all the way home.

Credit: Linda Seamons

For more information, take a look at Blue Moo.

Happy reading and singing!

-- LadyD

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2020– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

10 Songs for Back To School

As a former Kindergarten music teacher, over the years I enjoyed playing simple songs with the children just using 2 or 3 chords. I found the simplicity of the melody, along with rhyming was easy to learn. The children's participation is delightful to hear!


I'm Glad You Came To School (Sung to The Farmer In the Dell)

      D
I'm glad you came to school,

I'm glad you came to school.

I've planned lots of fun for you,

                      A7        D
I'm glad you came to school.


Welcome Song  (Oh, My Darling Clementine)

          F
Little Reid, little Reid,
                              C7
Little Reid is new today,
                                                  F
We are glad you've joined our classroom,
              C7                          F
And we hope that you will stay.

(Substitute the name of your new student for the name Reid, and the name of your group for the word classroom).

Sharing Time (Sung to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

C                                  F             C
Won't you share your show and tell?
G7          C            G7     C
We will look and listen well.
                  G7        C              G7
We know our turn will come soon
C        G7           C      G7
So we sing this little tune.
C                                 F              C
Won't you share your show and tell?
G7          C            G7     C
We will look and listen well.

Taking Turns (Mary Had a Little Lamb)

C
On the playground please take turns,
G7                         C
Please take turns, please take turns.

Remember others like a turn,
         G7
And always try to share.

We Share (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

C                        F                 C
We share all our blocks and toys
G7          C       G7          C
With the other girls and boys.
                G7          C             G7
Crayons, scissors, paint and glue,
C            G7            C       G7
Puzzles, books, the easel too.
C                         F             C
We take turns because it's fair,
G7             C          G7         C
And we're happy when we share.

Please Be Quiet (Oh, My Darling Clementine)

                 F
Please be quiet, please be quiet,
                                C7
Please be quiet just now.
                             F
Sh-sh-sh-sh, sh-sh-sh-sh

(Put finger to lips)
                 C7          F
Please be quiet just now.

Snack Attack (Three Blind Mice)

C        G7   C            G7  C
Snack attack, snack attack,
                    G7    C                G7      C
A snack for us to eat, let's sit in our seats.
                   G7          C
Peanuts or raisins or cheese would be great,
          G7            C
Even bananas, I just can't wait,
           G7           C
Hurry now, let's not be late.
           G7  C
Snack attack.

Line Up (Skip To My Lou)

F
Line up, line up, get in line,
C7
Line up, line up, get in line,
F
Line up, line up, get in line,
C7                             F
We're going to go to lunch.

Substitute the name of your next activity for the word lunch.

The Big Round Clock (The Wheels On the Bus)

        F
The big round clock goes tick tick tock,
C                      F
Tick tick tock, tick tick tock.

The big round clock goes tick tick tock,
      C             F
To tell us the time.

        F
The hands-on the clock go round and round
C                           F
Round and round, round and round.

The hands-on the clock go round and round,
      C             F
To tell us the time.

Outside Play (Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star)

C                     F          C
Let's go out to play today,
        G7      C                  G7           C
The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day.
              G7         C            G7
We will hop and skip and run,
C              G7       C       G7
And we'll have a lot of fun.
C                     F       C
Let's go out to play today,
        G7     C                    G7          C
The sun is shining, it's a beautiful day.


These 10 Back To School Songs are from a great resource I recommend, Piggyback Songs For School. You'll find over 200 songs for young children to sing at school. There's no music to read. Songs are chorded for guitar, autoharp, and piano.

Have fun!

LadyD

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.”  C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2019– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Book Review: We All Go Traveling By

I spy with my little eye,
You can hear with your little ear,
A yellow school bus goes beep-beep-beep.
And we all go traveling by, bye-bye,
And we all go traveling by.

Inside Jacket Flap 

All aboard! Just try to read or listen to this playful cumulative song without tapping your toes or singing along. Children will delight in beeping, vrooming and rumbling their way through the pages of this unique book, exploring different modes of transport as they go.

With its bright, hand-stitched illustrations and an accompanying musical CD by popular children's singer Fred Penner, We All Go Traveling By will turn every school journey into a special adventure!

Book Review

Children will love the repetition and the many brightly colored illustrations. This is a very engaging book with various landscapes to discover. Especially finding all the various modes of transportation from a truck, train, boat, car, bike, and especially a yellow school bus! The song is delightful!

5/5 stars! Highly recommend!

Happy Reading!


-- LadyD “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2019– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Book Review: I Could Be, You Could Be

I Could Be, You Could Be

Join a young boy and girl on thrilling adventures as they imagine themselves as space-traveling astronauts, ferocious dragons, jungle-dwelling monkeys and more. The fine line between children's make-believe and the fantastic worlds they create is cleverly portrayed through Barroux’s bright landscapes.

Ages 2 to 6 years

About The Book

Illustrations and rhyming text encourage readers to picture themselves becoming a variety of people and things, from an astronaut to an elephant to an alien. Includes instructions for making masks.

I Could Be, You Could Be

The story begins...

"I could be the king or queen making all the rules, You could be a dragon guarding all the jewels."

The story ends... Oh, I'm not telling! You'll love it!


What a delightful book that sparks the imagination, exploring so many areas of creativity, that fuels the conversation with endless possibilities! The storyline helps the child discover self-acceptance and purpose while dressing up and make believing. Great rhyming text. The illustrations are breathtaking with colorful blues and greens. The last page fosters an engaging craft of mask making. This is a fun book for young children.

4/5 stars!

I Could Be, You Could Be


Happy Reading!

-- LadyD

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

© copyright 2008-2019– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Music Movement in the Classroom: Review

Book Description

Children Sing and Dance Their Way to Better Basic Skills 
Channel children's natural enthusiasm for music and movement into a rich, positive learning experience with this toe-tapping program, featuring music by Greg & Steve. The concise, easy-to-follow lesson plans make teaching music enjoyable for the musical novice and expert alike. Written by Steven Traugh, each book includes two CDs featuring a total of over 30 fun songs. 64 pages each.

Music & Movement

Table of Contents

1. Can't Sit Still
2. Good Morning
3. What Colors Did You Choose?
4. Mixing My Colors
5. Mack Chicken Dance Medley
6. Dinosaurs Dancing
7. Halloween On Parade
8. Body Talk
9. Shaping Up With Shapes
10. Across The Bridge
11. Counting Up To Twenty
12. Alphabet Soup
13. Bingo
14. The Name Clapping Game
15. New Zoo Review
16. Warmin' Up
17. Days Of The Week
18. Rock 'Round The Mulberry Bush
19. What Will We Do When We All Go Out To Play?
20. Listen and Move
21. Quiet Time
22. A-Hunting We Will Go
23. The Beanbag Boogie
24. Skip To My Loo
25. Riding In My Car
26. Body Part Movement March
27. Reading Rhythmic Notation #1
28. Reading Rhythmic Notation #2
29. The Hokey Pokey
30. Snowflake

Halloween on Parade

Words and Music by Greg Scelsa

"You can be something silly,

Like a funny ol' circus clown.

Or you can be something from a storybook,

Like a king or a queen with a crown.

You can be a superhero

Like the kind in a comic book.

Or you can be something a little bit scary,

But a little friendly, too.

You can get dressed up,

In costumes and make-up.

You know that it's only pretend

And march all around to the happy sounds.

The fun will never end.

Chorus:

Halloween's on parade,

Halloween's on parade,

You can be anything you wanna be

When Halloween's on parade. (2 times)

You can be something goofy,

Like an old-time movie star,

A doctor, a nurse, or a fire chief,

A driver in a racing car.

You can be a crazy creature

From way out in outer space,

Or a character from a cartoon show

With a smile upon your face.

You can get dressed up,

In costumes and make-up.

You know that it's only pretend

And march all around to the happy sounds.

The fun will never end.

(Chorus)

Objectives

• To improve role-playing skills and enhance creativity
• To dramatize created characters
• To march to a steady beat
• To work as a cooperative group and follow a leader

Skills

• Listening
• Following Directions
• Marching
• Leadership
• Group Cooperation

Music & Movement

Book Review

Delightful songs for PreK and Kindergarten children. Listening to directions and applying moving skills are encouraged. Learning days of the week along with learning the alphabet through a song is fun for all. Counting to seven and then up to twenty is a must. My favorite is the clapping a rhythm pattern that grows in length and clapping to the letters in a name. Of course, an absolute must for music teachers is the Reading Rhythmic Notation sections in reading quarter notes and rests in music. Most popular is 'Snowflake' showing strength through diversity.

4/5 stars.

Happy Reading!

-- LadyD

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

© copyright 2008-2018– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Butterflies in the Butterfly Garden

I'm geared up for back-to-school piano lessons! That's right, I'll be teaching preschool children, beginners, intermediate players, and adults too. As summer draws near to an end, I am continually amazed at earth's beautiful creatures, the elegant free-flowing butterfly. Here are a few snippets I came across this morning...

Butterflies in the Butterfly Garden

Just to taste what the other

world is like - outside the garden's

nettled roof and walls - they hitch

a ride on your back and shoulders.

Blue and pearly-colored fellows,

maidens etched in white and black.

And the monarchs' cousins,

yellow and navy swallowtails.

A pair rests on your fingertips,

They sit so still - their wings papery

petals - you only know they're alive,

because you're barely breathing, too.

By Sharon Chmielarz

The Common Blue Morpho 

When a flattering friend pays you a 

visit, it might be tempting to touch those colorful wings but doing so

can make life difficult for the butterfly.

Its wings and body are covered with thousands of tiny scales that

overlap like shingles on a roof.

These scales provide colors and patterns to camouflage the butterfly

from predators. They also shed water and help make the wings

strong. But they come loose easily. If you touch a butterfly's wing, the 

"powder" you see on your hand is really scales that have fallen off.

By Jacqueline Adams

Meadow Mystery

While dragons soar overhead,

monarchs dine at my table,

My magic milk protects them

from enemies.

Clouds fill my pockets,

My coins bring good fortune to all.

Who am I? (the milkweed)

By Kathy Kennedy Tapp

Some Favorites

Banded Purple Wing

Belus Swallowtail

Common Blue Morpho

Giant Owl

Grecian Shoemaker

Gulf Fritillary

Orange Julia

Paper Kite

Pink Rose Swallowtail

Postman

Tailed Jay

Tiger Longwing

Zebra Longwing

You'll find trombone-blowing dragonflies and piano-tinkling centipedes inside the pages of this delightful Barefoot Book,  Creepy Crawly Calypso. You can purchase the book, here.

Happy reading and butterfly watching!

-- LadyD
 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

© copyright 2008-2017– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

Pam Brown: Grandchildren Quotes

photo credit: freedigitalphotos

Those gasps of astonishment, those shrieks of pleasure, those sights of delight, lost long ago when your children grew wise and worldly, are suddenly given back to you by your grandchildren. What seem to be the same small hands clutch yours, dragging you from one excitement to another - "Look! Oh look! Come on! -- Pam Brown

Pam Brown was a British writer, actress, and television producer.

Pamela Brown was just 13 when she started writing her first book, The Swish of the Curtain, in 1938. A year later, when World War II broke out, she left Colchester County High School - a selective grammar school for girls and went to live in Wales with her family. She continued with her writing, however, sending chapters of the book to her friends back in Colchester, Essex, and finally finished the book when she was 16.

The Swish of the Curtain tells the story of seven stage-struck children who form an amateur theatre company in a town called Fenchester, Brown's made-up name for her home town of Colchester. She herself was passionate about the theatre and, from an early age, put on plays with her friends. She went on to write several sequels to her first book, and other children’s novels. Her career as an actress and television producer provided her with much detail about early television and life in repertory.

More Pam Brown Quotes

photo credit: mvictor

One day we think, at last, we have escaped the ties of children, their troubles and their demands. And then we feel a little tug - and find ourselves bound, once more, by the needs of our grandchildren. And their love.
                   -- Pamela Brown

photo credit: yarnh

Time has taken edge of vision,
ears' perception, hands precision
yet bow can any feel bereft
when wonderment and love are left?  -- Pam Brown

Recommended Books

 Grandma Tillie looks like a mild-mannered granny with a bag full of knitting, but when she arrives to babysit Sophie and Chloe, she brings some crazy alter egos with her. The grandkids will love meeting Tillie Vanilly, Chef Silly Tillie, and Madame Frilly Tillie. Laurie A. Jacobs' text is imaginatively illustrated by Anne Jewett.

Silly Frilly Grandma Tillie

Grandpa Green by Lane Smith tells a grandfather's life story through the topiaries he creates, adding up to a creative grandpa book for children.

Grandpa Green

I have fond memories of my grandmother. Because I am Greek, the word for grandma is yia yia. I have changed the spelling to YaYa to make it easier for more 5 grandchildren. I am so blessed to be a grandma and I love each one of them so very much.

Here's a photo of my lovely granddaughter and yours truly!

How about you? Do you have a personal journal or family mementos from your grandmother's notebook?

My daughter loves these books on family. Take a closer look at The Barefoot Book of Children.



Happy Reading!

-- LadyD


“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis

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What Shapes Do You See?

One of the cool things about visiting Santa Barbara is discovering exciting ocean liners and sailboats!

"All aboard! Come along with me! Let's see what shapes we can find on the sea."

I have four charming grandsons and they love to look out on the water and talk about the movement out at sea. Oh, how we love our beautiful Pacific Ocean! Our boys are mesmerized by the size and shapes of the vessels that ride upon the sea!

At Oceanside Harbor, we have the opportunity to walk around the jetty, admire all the boats and then head to the playground for some fun!

As I reflected on some of the photos, I was reminded of a cool book called Ship Shapes for children, ages 1-4. This exciting book is available in paperback and sturdy board book. The author Stella Blackstone has written many other books as well.

About The Book

Spot the shapes atop rolling waves and on sandy shores. This sea-based early learning selection features rhyme and repetition, as well as a full-page summarizing the shapes for reinforced learning.

My Thoughts

One particular grandson, our Riley who is 4-years-old, loves to engage in the learning activity of identifying triangles and rectangles. He gets excited when he points to the boats and counts aloud how many there are. The best part of the book is the colorful illustrations. Plus, you will see a sea monster's tail, a green submarine, and beautiful island treasure. This is a fun book for preschool.

Order Ship Shapes, here.

Happy Summer!

-- LadyD

 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” -- C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2008-2017– All rights reserved
Barefoot Books-LadyD

We're Roaming in the Rainforest: A Barefoot Book

Olive Trees

“When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side, there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it. Now Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place because Jesus had often met there with his disciples.” John 18: 1-2

One of my favorite authors, Lysa Terkeurst wrote a short blog post that greatly impacted my life. I read and re-read her words during a time in my life when I needed tremendous encouragement and a new perspective to endure difficult times. I would like to share her words with you now...

"The olive tree is such a picture of why our hearts must go through the crushing times.

The crushing times are necessary times.

First, in order to be fruitful, the olive tree has to have both the east wind and the west wind. The east wind is the dry hot wind from the desert. This is a harsh wind. So harsh that it can blow over green grass and make it completely wither in one day.

The west wind, on the other hand, comes from the Mediterranean. It brings rain and life.

The olive tree needs both of these winds to produce fruit — and so do we. We need both winds of hardship and relief to sweep across our lives if we are to be truly fruitful.

The crushing times are processing times.

Another thing to consider about the olive tree is how naturally bitter the olive is and what it must go through to be useful. If you were to pick an olive from the tree and try to eat it this month, its bitterness would make you sick.

For the olive to be edible, it has to go through a lengthy process that includes:
washing,
breaking,
soaking,
sometimes salting,
and waiting some more.

It is a lengthy process to be cured of bitterness and prepared for usefulness.

If we are to escape the natural bitterness of the human heart, we have to go through a long process as well … the process of being cured.

The crushing times are preservation times.

The final thing I want to consider about the olive is the best way to preserve it for the long run. It must be crushed in order to extract the oil. The same is true for us. The biblical way to be preserved is to be pressed. And being pressed can certainly feel like being crushed.

Crushing is the way of preservation for the olive. It’s also the way to get what’s most valuable, the oil, out of the olive. Keeping this perspective is how we can be troubled on every side yet not distressed … pressed to the point of being crushed but not crushed and destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:8)

When the sorrowful winds of the east blow, I forget they are necessary.
When I’m being processed, I forget it’s for the sake of ridding me of bitterness.
And when I’m being crushed, I forget it’s for the sake of my preservation.

And so, He created the olive tree."

I hope you have been blessed by Lysa's words to keep going no matter how difficult life may seem at times! 

One book that is in our home library is about trees. No, not the beautiful olive tree but an exciting rainforest!

We're Roaming in the Rainforest

Do you have a book about rainforests? Have a peek inside our Barefoot Book.

What is the book is about?

Three children embark on a day-long trek through the rainforest, discovering all sorts of exotic creatures in their natural habitats. The charming, rhyming text highlights an adjective for each creature. The story is complemented by educational endnotes about the creatures in the story, and the peoples of the rainforest.

 Who is the book for?

Ages 4 to 10 years

 Who wrote the book?

Written By: Laurie Krebs
Illustrated By: Anne Wilson

What is the price of the book? Where can I purchase the book?

You can get the book at my daughter's store.
Paperback $7.99
Hardcover $16.99

Happy Reading!

LadyD

“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.” — C. S. Lewis

How Horses are Helping Children with Cancer

photo credit: Violeta Pencheva

I would like to introduce my readers to Jenny Holt! Jenny is a freelance health and nature writer. She came across a former post of mine, Pony Riding and Curb Walking when I was participating in orange and blue photo memes. Jenny was reminded of an article when she read my blog post.

Jenny has teamed up with a small pet health site to develop a simple guide for parents explaining how horses are just one animal involved in helping children with cancer. You can view the article at, http://www.particularpaws.com.

You will feel Jenny's heartfelt passion for horses helping children with cancer through her word crafting. I am thrilled we found one another!

Horses Helping Humans: Equine Therapy for Cancer Patients

Facing a life-changing diagnosis or surviving a life-threatening illness is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges in life. Traditional medical treatment is prescribed to fight the condition physically, but even if successful the psychological impact can be enormous. Supporting the mind and soul is equally as important as curing the body, but it requires a different approach.

Inclusive and Supportive

Engaging in equine-assisted therapy can be an excellent method of support during a period of illness, or as part of a rehabilitation process once given the all-clear. Equine therapy programs address both physical and emotional issues. Through participating in tasks such as grooming, taking the horse to the paddock, and moving equipment, people can rebuild physical strength and stamina which may have been lost during extended stays in hospital with reduced activity. Riding develops balance, muscle tone, and flexibility, but there are also options for non-riders to work with horses from the ground. Crucially though, a study undertaken with breast cancer survivors showed that equine-assisted therapy improved the overall quality of life for the women, not just their physical condition. Learning new skills promoted a sense of self-worth and pride, improved confidence, and gave the women feelings of accomplishment. 

Learning to Cope

People who have taken part in therapy programs have spoken about how undertaking tasks in an unusual environment helps them to cope with the unfamiliarity of their condition. The horse represents the obstacle of their illness, and they learn how to work towards a solution rather than focussing on the problem. Becoming a participant, rather than a victim, helps them to be in control rather than feeling helpless.

Being Mindful

Horses are non-judgemental, and live in the present. Interacting with horses and engaging in tasks with them requires you to think about what is going on immediately around you, rather than worrying about your condition. This approach to thinking is commonly seen in mindfulness techniques used to treat other psychological conditions. Sufferers of post-traumatic stress disorder engaging in equine-assisted therapy reported reduced anxiety, reduced symptoms of depression, and less severe emotional responses to stressful situations. Similarly, a study of young women diagnosed with social anxiety found that the equine therapy program helped them to feel less anxious and more empowered; these emotions are also experienced by cancer survivors. Equine therapy can offer people a chance to focus on something else, and to be something more than their diagnosis.

Thank you, Jenny! Best wishes and continued success!

Just a quick note from yours truly... Awhile back I shared a few photos with my readers of my grandson riding on a horse. This experience was in Maine when he was young. Have a look, here. Ben's therapist recommends horse riding because he has special needs. If you're not familiar with CdLS, there's more information here.

The above photo is where Ben currently rides in the hills of Santa Barbara!

I'm so pleased that our guest blogger shared such excellent writing on a subject dear to our hearts!

Thanks again, Jenny!

Warmly,

-- LadyD


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